Kristin Jacobs

Electronic Streetcar Coming to Broward County

Streetcars conjure up visions of San Francisco, New Orleans, Uncle Ben's Rice, and that Marlon Brando movie where he pleads for his wife to return to him after he beats her. But now, it will also conjure up downtown Fort Lauderdale and, also, the future, because the Broward County Commission has ... More >>

Ken Keechl Back for Another Bite at Broward Commission

What a difference a year or two makes.In November 2010, during a wave of Republican support, Broward County Mayor Ken Keechl was swept out of office despite a long and blistering attack on his opponent, Chip LaMarca, whom he outspent by nearly half a million dollars.People wondered why. Was it the d ... More >>

Can Vice Mayor Kristin Jacobs Save Broward From Climate Change?

Broward Vice Mayor Kristin Jacobs, who last year tried banning the sale of bongs, is the newest member of the Intergovernmental Coastal Oceans Task Force, a group of lawmakers and eco-experts appointed to protect us from the forthcoming watery woe of climate change.The group is said to represent the ... More >>

Allen West's Primary Opponents Don't Really Want to Be His Primary Opponents

​As you may have heard once or twice or a million times, Congressman Allen West is switching districts for the 2012 race, moving north to the newly drawn District 18. He already has an avowed general election opponent in Democrat Patrick Murphy, but West could also be up against two Republicans in ... More >>

Chip LaMarca Still May Run for Congress in District 22

​The day Broward Vice Mayor Kristin Jacobs held her official campaign kickoff for the U.S. House of Representatives, fellow County Commissioner Chip LaMarca told the Sun-Sentinel he's "very seriously considering" running for Allen West's old seat too.LaMarca, a Republican, has been "considering" a ... More >>

TSA Body Scanners at Fort Lauderdale Airport Targeted by Broward Commission

TSAImages from the "backscatter" machine.​The Broward Commission may request that the Transportation Security Administration go back to the old-school gropings pat-downs of passengers at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and ditch the use of body scanners.The item -- which was de ... More >>

John Rodstrom Becomes New Broward Mayor; Kristin Jacobs Gets the Upgrade to Vice Mayor

Broward Vice Mayor Kristin Jacobs (left) and Mayor John Rodstrom.​The Broward Commission voted unanimously to pick Vice Mayor John Rodstrom as the new Broward Mayor, replacing Sue Gunzburger to begin his one-year term.Kristin Jacobs' path to becoming the new vice mayor wasn't exactly a shoe-in. Sh ... More >>

Broward Commission Rejects One Proposal Requiring Permits for "Expressive Activities"

​The Broward Commission unanimously voted down a draft ordinance proposed by County Administrator Bertha Henry to require people to apply for and obtain permits to engage in "expressive activities" at county facilities -- a mandate that many members of the public see as a stab at the First Ame ... More >>

Broward County Commission Drops the Bong-Hammer on Youngsters

superstoned.net​Thanks to the Broward County Commission, youngsters under the age of 18 now have to get permission from Mom or Dad to buy a "smoking device."All hope is not lost for the young potheads of Broward -- the commission didn't ban kids from buying apples.The ordinance, sponsored by Commi ... More >>

Broward Commissioner Kristin Jacobs Wants to Ban Selling Bongs to Kids, Unless Mom's There

superstoned.netNot without ID, mister.​Broward County Commissioner Kristin Jacobs is putting down the bong-hammer.Scheduled for tomorrow's commission meeting is a requested motion to direct the county attorney to draft an ordinance that would ban the sale of "smoking devices" to kids under age 18. ... More >>

Embattled Stacy Ritter Back on the Fundraiser Trail

Cal Deal Wild Art: Sheriff Al Lamberti at a pill mill protest Friday at the Galleria in Fort Lauderdale. Also pictured: Broward Commissioners Chip LaMarca (left of Lamberti) and Kristin Jacobs (far right). Thanks to Cal Deal for the photo. ​Broward County Commissioner Stacy Ritter may be in t ... More >>

Newspaper Report: Sylvia Poiter Is Being Charged With Five Misdemeanors

UPDATED: Sylvia Poitier, the controversial former Broward County commissioner who is now an elected official in Deerfield Beach, has been charged with five misdemeanors related to her family's involvement in a city-sponsored housing organization, according to the South Florida Times. Poitier​ ... More >>

Why Did Stacy Ritter Appoint Les Stracher To Powerful Planning Council?

Broward County Commissioner Stacy Ritter, shortly after voting in favor of the controversial housing project being pushed by dirty developers Bruce and Shawn Chait, appointed the husband of  the Chaits' chief political consultant to the Broward County Planning Council. In early 2007, Ritte ... More >>

The Incredible Mr. Rand

There is no bigger believer in the power of activists in Broward County than the Pulp. When watchdogs in the media fail (which happens more frequently than you can imagine), their hard work and perseverance have helped to bring one scandal after another to light. Russell Rand speaks at a recent ... More >>

After Tucson, Stacy Ritter Wants More Security -- From 'Bloggers'

In the wake of the Tucson shooting, Broward County Commissioner Stacy Ritter said at yesterday's public meeting that she wants to beef up security and have metal detectors at the county governmental building. ​All That Glitters, who watched the meeting (I didn't), reported the ... More >>

A Mayor Named Sue

They just voted Sue Gunzburger the new Broward mayor to replace Ken Keechl. Hey, it was her turn. Commissioner Kristin Jacobs made a very lame motion for Gunzburger, saying that "when each jewel is allowed to shine, the whole crown shines." Yuck. Out with the old, in with the ... More >>

Former Accused Cop in Heavily Contested Judge Race

John Fry is facing John Howes in a runoff for a Broward County Judge right now, but ten years ago, that must have seemed like an impossibility. He had lost his job as a Margate cop and was facing criminal charges for, as the Miami Herald put it at the time, participating in an arrest ... More >>

A High Schooler's Guide to Broward County Commission Politics

Photo: C. StilesKristin Jacobs had a score to settle with Sue Gunzburger.​I know that sometimes the politics behind Broward County Commission decisions can seem complex, but trust me: Anyone who has been to high school can understand the social dynamics at work on the county's legislative body.The ... More >>

Florida Ethics Czar Asks for Leniency for Corrupt School Board Member

Sun-Sentinel This shot by Mike Stocker should have won a Pulitzer.​The top ethics official in Florida penned a letter asking a federal judge to show leniency for former Broward County Board Member Beverly Gallagher, who has pleaded guilty to bribery and other federal charges that ... More >>

The Broward County Commission Is A Nest Of Whores

I've decided to go with more blunt and truthful headlines ... can you tell? The inspiration for this one is the passing of lobbyist Ron Book's initiative to bring more money to the county's bail bondsmen at the expense of our tax dollars. Book, who represents the bondsmen, has been w ... More >>

Broward County bail bondsmen want to kill pretrial intervention, and the County Commission is willing to help

Judy Stern: All Clear For Profits

Family Ties

Broward Commission, lobbyists ooze coziness

All About the Benjamin

It looks like Ben Graber is selling out the public for a high-rolling developer. He says he's making sausage.

Best Political Comeback

Sylvia Poitier

Swimming in Trouble

Pompano Beach Mayor Bill Griffin is, well, conflicted over the Swimming Hall of Fame deal

Ch-a-a-rge It!

You thought there was a problem with Broward credit cards? Get this.

Best Power Grab

Lori Parrish

Gimme Shelter

Allen Reesor's friends-and-family program has other homeless-services professionals crying foul

A Plane Case of Quid Pro Quo

Commissioner Lori Parrish opposed a rent increase for small airlines. A major supporter is a lobbyist for the airlines. You figure it out.

Undercurrents

Exhibit X

Best Local Politician/Broward

Kristin Jacobs

Best Political Battle

John Rodstrom vs. Scott Cowan

At-Large Ignorance

The plan to elect county commissioners from single-member districts could revolutionize Broward politics. So why don't voters care?

The Reeducation of Ms. Kristin Jacobs

Broward's leading reform candidate discovers that money really is the root of all influence

To the Victor Go the Spoiled Children

County Commissioner Scott Cowan paid his daughters $10,000 in campaign funds for not working on his campaign. Hey -- it's legal.